NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (Reuters) – Indian farmers have planted
28.3 million hectares (69.9 million acres) with summer-sown
rice, according to the farm ministry’s latest data, up 3.28%
from the same period last year, as robust monsoon rains
encouraged the expansion of acreage.
Higher rice planting in India, the world’s second-biggest
producer of the grain, will ease concerns about lower output of
the staple.
India late last month ordered a halt to its largest rice
export category a move that will roughly halve shipments by the
world’s largest exporter of the grain.
Farmers typically start planting rice, corn, cotton,
soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1,
when monsoon rains are expected to begin drenching India.
Summer rains are crucial as nearly half of India’s farmland
lacks irrigation.
For June and July together, India’s monsoon rains were 5%
above average, falling 10% below normal in June but rebounding
to 13% above average in July.
The weather office defines average, or normal, rainfall as
ranging between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of 87 cm (35
inches) for the four-month season.
This year, the delayed arrival of monsoon rains and lower
rainfall in June, especially in some southern, eastern and
central states, held back the planting of summer crops, even as
the monsoon covered the entire country nearly a week in advance.
Some regions in India, including breadbasket states such as
Punjab and Haryana, received torrential rains in July,
triggering floods. Still, dry weather prevailed in some parts of
the country.
Farmers planted 17.9 million hectares (44.2 million acres)
with oilseeds, including soybeans, 2.2% more than a year
earlier. Corn was planted on 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million
acres), up from 7.5 million hectares a year earlier. The cotton
area was marginally lower at 11.9 million hectares.
(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by William Mallard)
Read More: Commodities : Robust rains accelerate rice planting in India